Wrench



Sept. 30 1924.

O. D. HOLLE WRENCH Filed July 25 1923 citizen of the United States,

, for fitting hexagonal,

Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

OTTO D. I-IOLLE, OF BREMEN, KANSAS.

WRENCH. ffii Application led July 25, 1923. Serial No. 653,768.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, OTTO D. HoLLn, a residing at Bremen, in the county of Marshall and State of Kansas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in wrenches, and has particular reference to that class of tools known as socket wrenches.

Primarily the object of the invention is to provide a wrench having its socket portion adapted for the reception of a handle and the positioning of means within said socket portion whereby the wrench may be used as an ordinary wrench; as a ratchet wrench; and having additional means so the tool is reversible when used as a ratchet wrench.

A further object is the provision of a wrench having various size sockets adapted square, or other shaped heads of a bolt.

With the above general objects in View and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists of the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings and claimed.

In t-he drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts through the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the wrench.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the socket portion, illustrating the connection between the handle and said socket portion.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the socket and handle in this instance being locked together.

Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the position of certain pawls when the tool is used as a ratchet wrench.

Referring more in detail to the accom anying drawings, there is illustrated the landle of the wrench 5 which is preferably L-shaped, and having its extremities cut to form elongated teeth, as indicated at 6 and 7. My purpose in having these extremities similarly cut is to make said handle readily interchangeable and adapt the same to suit situations where accessibility and other con ditions must be taken into consideration. It will, of course, be understood that shape of said handle is of minor consideration so long as my means of constructing the conn necting extremities is carefully adhered to. Each end of said handle 5, just rearwardly of the teeth 6 and 7, is provided with an aperture 9 for the reception of a springpressed friction ball 10, which serves to secure the handle to the socket 8, as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter. The spring-pressed ball 10 is backed by a plug 11 seating within said aperture 9.

The socket 8 has its lower portion hollowed out, as indicated at 8a, and may be made hexagonal, square, or oval, and of va rious sizes, so that no standard size bolt or nut will be without the range of the sockets. The shank 13 of said socket is provided with an axial bore 14, two diametrically opposed slots 15 and 15a, for the reception of pawls 16 and 16a which latter are pivoted to said shank as indicated at 17. Further, a substantially semi-circular groove 18 is cut between the said slots 15 and 15a, on the outer face of said shank, for the reception of a spring 19.

A ring 20 encircles said shank portion and is cut away as indicated at 21, (Fig. 1) exposing the slots 15 and 15a, and is further provided With inwardly directed lugs 22 and 22a, said lugs co-acting with the pawls hereinbefore referred to in a manner to be hereinafter pointed out.

Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings clearly depict the relation of the associated parts described above.

The axial bore 14 is provided with an annular groove 24 which receives the friction ball 10. It will thus be seen that when the extremities of the handle are inserted in the bore of the socket, the friction ball backs into the aperture 9 until it is opposite the groove 24, whereupon the ball under the influence of its spring snaps into said groove and serves as sufficient connection between the handle and its socket. The sharp outward pull releases the handle. It is apparent that when the tool is used as a ratchet wrench the partial revolution of the handle is not attended by the usual wear and tear, since my construction provides a substantially ball bearing between said handle and socket.

As pointed out in the brief description the said handle and socket are shown locked together in Fig. 3. Considering now this view, it is apparent that when the ring 20 is turned to the` left the lug 22 cooperates with the pawl l-6 drawing the same out oi contact With the toothed endv of the handle, as shown in Fig. 4. In this position the tool becomes a ratchet Wrench, thus by, moving the handle back and forth it enables one to Work in cramped quarters. Conversely When Ythe ring 2O is turned to the right said lug 22 strikes the side extension 1Gb 'of the pawl andthrorvvs the latter back into` engagement viiith the toothed; end 'of the handle.' 'During this' aterfpeaerfhe he www be md@ to'coi-aet with the 16a by turning 'the ring20 stillI further tothe right, whereupon thesaid pafwlis released", from the toothed end' 'the handle, thereby making the tool reversible."

Thelends ot the spring press against the pavvls urge 1theinintol engagement with the adjacentifl'fiiece. Thisspring is held in place by the ring' 20.

i' tjrwill be 'noted that when both pawls are en aged, as?indicated,A inI Fig, 3, theftool is operated as an'ordinary `wrench, that is, the handleand the socket are locked together. `lltjis, eteourse,to`be undeifstood that the invention may be constructed "in other inanners and the parts associated indifferent relations'- and, therefore, l do not desire to be liinitetl "n anymanner except' as setl forth in the c laimsjlie'reiint appended, Y """Ifclainil v" l'. Aftool of the character described comprising a'lsocketupoitiony having a bored shank, said shank having'diametrically opposedjslotsj and afgrooveI extending substantiallj'halifjvvay aroun'dfsaid shank, aspring iiifs'aid groove, yhandleadapted to enter said shank 'and having its extremities providediwith'elongated teeth, pawls associated Wiersma sckei'pqreea and entering Saai slots and meansffor operating said pawls for the purpose of either locking the handle to the socket portion or operating so the tool may be used as a ratchet.l

2. A tool of the character described comprisingl a socket portion having a bored shank, said shank having diametrcally opposed slots and a. groove extending substantially halt-way around said shank between said slots, a spring seating Within said groove, a handleadapted to enter said shank and having its extremities provided lwith elongated teeth, parvis associated with said socket portion and entering said slots and a ring encircling said shank provided within- War'dly directed lugs that cooperate with said pawls tor the purpose of either locking the handle to the socket portion or operating so the tool ma7 be used as aratchet;

' 3. il Wrench comprising a handle, said handle having elongatedteeth cut in both ends and provided with a trains-verse aperture rearward ot' said teeth, a springressed ball positioned in said aperture, a iollow socket provided with a shank portion having anaxial bore, said bore having an annular groove :t'or the reception of said springpressed` ball, said shank being furtherv provided With diametrically` o )posed horizontal slots and a groove exten ing substantially half-Way around said shank between said slots, a spring seating Within said1 groove pawls pivoted xvithinthe Groove off sai, shank and of suiiicient length to enterA said slots and engage said teeth of said handle, said pawls having side extensions and ar ring encircling` said shank and having inwardly directed lugs that cooperatewith the pawls' to seat them Within the teeth of said handle and to `cooperate with said side extensions to remove the same.

In testimoniT whereof I afiix 1n i signature.

oTfro D. oLLn. 

